Method of removing dust and gases from mines.



P. T.- BYBRS. Y METHOD 0F REMOVING DUST AND GASES FROM MINES.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 7, 190s.

899,509,A Y Pateted sept. 29, 1908.

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- UNITED sTATns PATENT OFFICEi FRANK T. `BYER'S, OF MOUNT PLEASANT, PENNSYLVANIA.

IVETHOD 0F REMOVING DUST AND GASES-FROM MINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

t Application'sied July 7, 1eos. serial No. 442,317.,

My invention relates to mine ventilation,.

and particularlytoa method of removing dust, gases, and other impurities from the separate compartments, passages, -or rooms4 of a mine.

The. objects .of my invention are to avoid the danger to miners employed in operating the mines and to vprei-'ent' the accumulation of explosive gases and compounds. The danger of such ,explosions has been ver greatly increased in coal-mines by the introduction `of machinery `for the cutting of the coal, and the use of gunpowder andot-her blastin compounds used 'in throwing down the coa from the face of the rooms or passages. The cutting machinery causes largequantities of fine coal-dust, and when a sui'licient amount has accumulated a dangerously explosive mixture results.- It has been found that recent explosions are due vlargely to this cause. u

My present invention provides amethod of removing the dust and gases, collecting the dust in settling chambers andv withdrawing the gases from the mine. "For the urpose o illustrating one ar rangement y which my invention may be carried out,- and for the urpose of more clearly describing my methodof removing dust and gases, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 illustrates a horizontal section through the-headings and rooms oa mine, showing one arrangement for carrying out my invention; and Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of the entrance to a heading, showing one form of a door by which the heading may be sealed.

The exhaust pump 1, together with Iits operating engine or other motor 2, may be con veniently located in a room-3 excavated for this purposeat the bottom` of shaft l, and

from which entrance is obtained .into the mine through the u main heading r5. The

becoming lighter m weig branch headings 6 and 7 lead to the various rooms 8 cut into the .face of the coal vein, the coal being removed vfrom the ends of these rooms in which the cutting machinery is located. Fans or blowers are operated at the entrances of the several headings for the purpose of supplying fresh air and Ventilating the rooms, but it has been found that itis impossible to remove the dust and gases which accumulate in the inner ends of the rooms and this accumulation results in the explosive mixtures which endanger' the lives of the miners as well as the property of the mine.

A system of piping is led from -the main shaft having the main pipes or conduits 10 suspended fromthe root1 of the headings with branch pipes 12leading therefrom into t-he several rooms and into proximity to the face y vof the coal where the cutting machinery is in A branch main 13 leads from t e main 10 into the settling `chamber 15,

o eration.

from which the exhaust pipe 16 leads to the pump 1.

At'the entrance to the headers and at 'intermediate points if desirable, there are placed sliding doors 20 by means of which the passages may be closed and sealed airtight. Similar doors 21 also control the assages 22 and 23 leading into the dust set ing and collecting chamber 15'.

The thorough cleaning of the mine and the removal of all of vthe dust, gases, and impurities is preferably accom hshed at night, as this must be done when t e mine is not in operation. For this purpose the door `20 at the entrance to the main heading is closed, thus sealing the entrance air-tight, the other doors remaining open in their lowered position. The valve 25 is closed, shutting ol` the main 10 from the outside atmosphere. The exhaust pump is set in operation and withdraws the air and gases from the passages of the mine until the atmospheric pressure has been very much reduced, say toiive pounds per square inch, as shown by the pressure indicator 27. As the air ressure is reduced, t, the gases will be drawn out ofthe crevices, falls, and old workings and places Where there is no circulation of air and will mix Iwith the light air now in the mine and bedrawn out therewith through t the exhaust channelsby the operation of the pump. The valve 26 in the pipe 13 is now' closed and the valve 2.5 is o ened, whereupon the air from the outside wil rush through the pipes, issuing with great force from the pipes 12 at the inner ends of the several rooms, causing strong drafts which will force the dust and any remaining gases from the rooms into the headings, from which the only exhaust is through the passage 22 into the settling chamber 1 5. The dust will be collected and settled in traversing the tortuous ath in the chamber 15 and may be assiste by sprays of water therein; while the gases will be drawn out through the pipe 16 by the operation of the pump and will pass out through the exhaust 29. The mine will thus be thoroughly cleansed of all dust and impurities and the collected dust and dirt may be manually removed by entering the chamber 15 through the several entrance passages 22 and 23. It will be seen that by providing a settling and dust collecting chamberA between the passage 22 and the exhaust pipe 16, the dust and other solidy particles are removed before the gases enter the exhaust pum ,thus preventing the destruction thereof W lch would result if the dust and solid particles were allowed to enter the same.

-In order that there may be no large accumulation of dust and impurities While the miners are at work, during which time the doors leading into the headings are all open and the fan blowers are operating in the headings, I arrange to withdraw the dust and gases continuously from the inner ends of the rooms by means of the same system of piping.

,For this purpose I close the valve 30 and open the valve 26, and also close the door 21 at the entrance to the exhaust passage 22. The exhaust pump will now create a suction continuously through the pi es 12, main 10, and branch' main 13,- and t ough the settling chamber and exhaust pipe 16. The dust will be collected in the chamber 15 while the gases will be forced out through the exhaust pipe 29. It will thus be seen4 that I provide against the accumulation of any dangerous amount of dust and gases during the workin hours, and thoroughly cleanse the mine o alldust and gases during the time that the mine is closed down.

In Figs. 2 and 3, I have shown detail views of a sliding door by which the headings and passages may be sealed. A frame having side members 40 and topymember 41 is fitted within the assage and forms the guide for the sliding oor 42, an air-tight joint being insured by a resilient sealing material 43 which extends aroundthe, sides, top and bot- -the entire mine at one time.

below the frame, the door being suitably balanced by weights and pulle 's or otherwiseso that it may be readily owered into the pit or raised into its closed position. Sections of rails 45 are carried by the top of the door, which pass up Within the top guide of the door frame when the door is in its raised position.

From the foregoing description, it will now be clear that I have provided an efficient method of removing the dust, gases and other impurities which accumulate in the inner ends of the rooms and passages of mines, and in crevices, falls, and old workings .in which the gases may be occluded. It will be apparent that I may seal certain portions of the headings and cleanse a portion of the mine, or I may seal the entrance and cleanse By arranging the system of piping and the pumping a paratus and dust collecting chamber as a ove described, so that strong drafts or blasts of air may be injected into the interior rooms when the mine is closed down and then causing the suction through the system of piping during the working hours, I have provided an exceedingly economical system. By my method of reducing the atmospheric pressure I am enabled to withdraw the occluded gases which would not be driven out merely by the use of fans or drafts or by suction.

The means for carrying out the method disclosed herein is claimed in my co- )ending application Serial No. 421,328, ileri March 16, 190s.

Having now described my invention and IOO the manner in which the same may be carried out, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The method of removing dust and gases from mines, which consists in reducing the atmospheric pressure within the mine, introducing blasts of air at a plurality of points within the mine, thereby causing s tron drafts to traverse and drive out the dust an gases from the assages of the mine, and for removing said ust and gases.

2. The method of removing dust and gases from mines, which consists 1n reducing the atmospheric pressure within the mine, introducing air at a higher pressure into the mine in the vicinity of the inner ends ofthe rooms or passages of the mine, thereby creating strong drafts from the rooms into the headings, and causing the dust and gases to pass into exhaust channels. i

3'. The method of removing dust and gases from mines, which consists in sealing the mine, withdrawing the air and gases and reducing the atmospheric pressure therein, introducing air at a higher pressure than said reduced ressure at a lurality of points Within t e mine, there y causing stron drafts to traverse and drive out ythe dust an gases from the passages of the mineinto eX- ings, and causing the dust and gases to pass 10 haust channels. V into dust settling and 'collecting chambers.

' 4. The method of removing dust and gases In testimony whereof I affix my signature from mines, which consists in redncingthe in presence of two witnesses.

D atmospheric pressure Within the mine, introducing air at a higher pressure into the mine BRANK T' BYERS' in the vicinity of the inner vends of the rooms Witnesses: or passages of the mine, thereby causing JNO. A. BYERs,

strong .drafts fromthe'rooms into the head- DAVIDl C. BYERs. 

